Kameryn Chavez, Bakersfield High’s top singles player, swept her match, 6-0, 6-0, and teammate Riley Taft lost only two games at No. 2 singles to help lead the Drillers’ girls tennis team to a convincing 8-1 nonleague victory Tuesday over Centennial at the BHS courts.
The victory improved the Drillers’ record to 9-8 overall and serves as a great start to a busy schedule the rest of this week, with South Yosemite Valley League meetings with Bakersfield Christian, a 3 p.m. match at BCHS Wednesday, and then a 3 p.m. Friday home match against Ridgeview.
Having a strong performance from Chavez is becoming the norm for the junior standout.
“Last year getting to valley was a great experience and it showed my passion for tennis. I felt good mentally, too, and that’s carried over to this season,” said Chavez, who only has one loss in singles and one in doubles this year.
Centennial, whose lone win in nine matches was a solid 6-2, 6-4 triumph from Kate Smith at No. 6 singles over Emily Pacaldo, battled in a few other spots, but the Drillers had enough to overcome.
The last two matches on the court were Smith and Pacaldo and BHS No. 5 singles player Amelia Wood, a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Sophie Spicer. Other singles wins came from BHS’ No. 3 Sydney Roy, 6-3, 6-3 over Anna Alcantar, and Brooke Parks, who topped Gabby Ochoa, 6-1, 6-2 in a battle of No. 4s.
Bakersfield started the day with a sweep in doubles. The Drillers’ No. 1 team of Chavez and Taft won a battle at 8-6 with Giada Dibble and Ellie McNellis. Sonia Pankey and Roy teamed to win 8-5 against Centennial’s Alcantar and Binay Brar. BHS’ No. 3 doubles team, Mia Clifford and Georgia Bassett, completed the sweep with an 8-2 triumph over Isabella Bayley and Ochoa.
The loss, while tough on the Golden Hawks — BHS beat Centennial 8-1 back in September — won’t get any easier based on the schedule. The Golden Hawks will end up playing back-to-back-to-back this week. Centennial faces South Yosemite River League foe Liberty in a home and home series. The teams play at Liberty on Wednesday and host the Patriots Thursday. Both are 3 p.m. matches.
Centennial head coach Michaela Almberg said she appreciated her team’s effort despite the end result.
“As long as they try, give it their all, and feel good about their effort, that’s what is important,” Almberg said.
Justin Honea, a first-year head varsity coach at BHS but who has been a JV coach for a few years, is liking what he sees as the players grow.
“Even though this was nonleague, I still treat it as a championship match. I want to win. I want the girls to play their best and have fun. Though this is nonleague, come team playoffs you could still have to match-up with them.”
